Near North Development Corporation

What Near North Development Corporation does

Near North Development Corporation (NNDC) is a 501(c)-style nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1967 and headquartered at 1251 N. Clybourn Ave, Chicago, Illinois. The organization operates three integrated program lines: (1) the TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program, a federally funded college access and success initiative delivering academic advising, college preparation, financial aid guidance, mentorship, SAT/ACT preparation, and campus visits to first-generation, low-income high school students in three Chicago-area school districts (513 students served in 2023-2024, 66% senior college enrollment rate); (2) an affordable housing initiative that has developed and now manages 369+ units across properties including Evergreen Sedgwick, Evergreen Towers I & II, Evergreen Terrace, Cottage View Terrace, and Spaulding Trumbull, serving low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities; and (3) a community development program addressing crime prevention, school improvement, commercial revitalization, and recreational programming. NNDC does not sell a technology product and instead operates a service-delivery model reliant on direct human-led community engagement.

NNDC's revenue mechanics are typical of a community development nonprofit and operate across three streams: federal government grants (U.S. Department of Education for TRIO ETS and HUD-backed programs including LIHTC for housing), individual and corporate donations collected through a Stripe-powered online portal with tiered giving levels from $25 to $5,000+, and rental operations from its LIHTC-restricted affordable housing portfolio. Go-to-market is community-led: services are distributed through the Chicago headquarters, school-based delivery at partner CPS schools, and on-site property management at the housing portfolio. Customer segments are non-paying beneficiaries (students, families, seniors, persons with disabilities) rather than commercial buyers, which means revenue is generated upstream of the end beneficiary via grants and donations. Strategic partners include the City of Chicago, United Way, Chicago Community Foundation, Chicago Public Schools, HUD, POAH (Preservation of Affordable Housing), Voice of the People, and Uptown. The organization employs between 11 and 50 staff, led by Executive Director Kelvin M. Strong, with governance provided by a Board of Directors chaired by President Makeda London.

Name

Near North Development Corporation

Legal name

Near North Development Corporation

Website

https://near-north.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Near North Development Corporation is a Chicago-based nonprofit founded in 1967 that delivers the federally funded TRIO Educational Talent Search college access program, manages 369+ units of affordable housing, and runs community development services for first-generation low-income students, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Individual and corporate donations at various tiers ($25-$100, $100-$500, $500-$1000, $1000-$3000, $3000-$5000, $5000+). Donations are tax-deductible and support educational programs (45%), community services (30%), and administrative costs (5%).
2. Government Grants: Federally funded through U.S. Department of Education for TRIO Educational Talent Search program. Additional government partnerships include HUD for housing initiatives.
3. Housing Operations: Manages affordable housing units including Evergreen Towers I (100 units), Evergreen Tower II (100 units), and other properties. Revenue supports housing development and management operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Near North Development Corporation (NNDC) is a Chicago-based nonprofit community development organization that runs the federally funded TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program providing free college access and success services to first-generation, low-income high school students, develops and manages 369+ units of affordable housing across five properties serving low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, and delivers broader community development services including crime prevention, school improvements, commercial revitalization, and recreational programs in Chicago's Near North Side.

Product overview

Near North Development Corporation operates as a single unified nonprofit service organization offering three interconnected core programs: the TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program for college access and success, the Housing Initiative for affordable housing development and management, and the Community Development Program for neighborhood revitalization. Additional services include events, workshops, and donation programs. The organization does not operate a technology product platform but provides direct community services to residents of Chicago's Near North Side.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) Program A federally funded college access and success program providing academic advising, college preparation, financial aid guidance, mentorship, and tutoring services for low-income, first-generation high school students (grades 9–12) across three Chicago-area school districts.
• Housing Initiative Affordable housing development and management program providing 369+ units across multiple LIHTC properties (Evergreen Tower I, Evergreen Tower II, Evergreen Sedgwick, Evergreen Terrace, Cottage View Terrace, Spaulding Trumbull), serving low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
• Community Development Program Comprehensive community development services addressing crime prevention, local school improvements, neighborhood commercial and industrial revitalization, and affordable recreational programs to maintain North Town as an economically, socially, and racially integrated community.
• Events & Workshops Community events, educational workshops, and empowerment programs including financial literacy, computer skills, and life skills workshops, career development (job fairs, resume workshops, interview preparation), community events (celebrations, festivals, neighborhood gatherings), and health & wellness programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 66% of Talent Search seniors enrolled in college in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• City of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing support for community development initiatives, housing programs, and neighborhood revitalization efforts in Chicago's Near North Side.
• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor nonprofit partner supporting community development and social service programs through funding and collaborative initiatives.
• Chicago Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic partner providing grant funding and support for housing, education, and community development programs.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary educational partner for TRIO Talent Search program, providing access to schools and students across 3 Chicago-area school districts.
• HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal housing partner supporting affordable housing development through funding and regulatory programs including LIHTC.
• POAH (Preservation of Affordable Housing)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit housing developer partner collaborating on affordable housing preservation and development projects.
• UptownsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for housing initiatives and community development in the Uptown area.
• Voice of the PeoplesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission-driven housing developer partner for affordable housing projects and resident services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Habitat for Humanity Chicago: Chicago affiliate of Habitat for Humanity that builds and rehabs affordable homes for low-income families. Comparable to NNDC in affordable housing focus in Chicago, though Habitat focuses on homeownership pathways rather than multifamily rental.
• Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation: Chicago-based community development corporation that develops and manages affordable rental housing and provides resident services on the city's north and west sides. Comparable to NNDC in operating model (housing + community services in Chicago) and target populations (low-income families and residents).
• POAH (Preservation of Affordable Housing): National nonprofit affordable housing preservation and development organization. NNDC partners with POAH on affordable housing projects in Chicago, and both share a focus on LIHTC-based affordable housing development and resident services for low-income populations.
• The Resurrection Project: Chicago-based community organization focused on housing, community development, and immigrant integration on the city's southwest side. Comparable to NNDC in combining affordable housing development with community-based programs serving low-income residents.
• College Possible: National nonprofit providing college access and success coaching for low-income high school students, often through school partnerships. Comparable to NNDC's TRIO ETS program in target population (first-generation, low-income students), service model (coaching and test prep), and outcome focus (college enrollment).
• Greater Southwest Development Corporation: Chicago-based CDC developing affordable housing and providing workforce and community development programs on the city's southwest side. Highly comparable to NNDC as a Chicago CDC with multi-program structure spanning housing, education, and community development.
• Chicago Community Land Trust: Chicago-based nonprofit creating permanently affordable homeownership opportunities through community land trust structures. Comparable to NNDC in mission (preserving affordable housing in Chicago) and in serving low-income and minority residents.
• Bottom Line: National nonprofit providing college access and success advising to low-income, first-generation students from major U.S. cities including Chicago. Comparable to NNDC's TRIO ETS work in mission, target population, and direct-service college advising model.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that invests in affordable housing development and community development financial infrastructure. Comparable to NNDC in affordable housing mission and LIHTC expertise, but operates nationally with a much broader portfolio and program scope.
• LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Chicago: National CDFI that provides financing and capacity-building support to Chicago CDCs including NNDC-adjacent organizations. Comparable as a Chicago community development ecosystem player, though LISC operates as a funder/intermediary rather than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Near North Development Corporation